WHY YOU’RE UNMOTIVATED (AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!)

Have you noticed at this time of year that you have precisely zero energy and drive to get anything done? Low motivation is a common symptom at this time of the year, and for good reason. There are several key reasons that could contribute to why you’re unmotivated right now, so let’s take a closer look at which might apply for you. 

TOP REASONS WHY YOU'RE UNMOTIVATED AT THE END OF THE YEAR

YOU'RE STRESSED OUT

It’s the obvious one, and there’s a 99% chance that it’s true for you right now! The end of the year comes with a lot of pressure – organising events, buying presents, coordinating holidays, finishing up work, having kids underfoot, dealing with in-laws…

I work with a lot of overwhelmed women. Unfortunately, we are more prone to the effects of stress throughout our 40s (thanks a lot, low progesterone levels!) But there are some ways to feel more calm and in control – give this article a read for some simple tips.

YOU'RE NAVIGATING PERIMENOPAUSE

For some, perimenopause is an easy transition with few challenges. But for many others, perimenopause is a nightmare. Your hormones are fluctuating all over the place, and this has a massive impact on the balance of brain chemicals including serotonin, dopamine and GABA. And when this balance is thrown off, you end up anxious, miserable and completely unmotivated.

To solve this reason why you’re unmotivated, you need to get to the root cause. After all, perimenopausal symptoms are simply signs of something brewing underneath. Have a browse of my perimenopause articles for more insights into why your hormone balance is off.

YOU'RE NOT EATING ENOUGH

This one is something that is more common than you might realise! I work with countless women who are under-eating – either because they skip meals, or are restricting calories to try and lose weight, or even just due to low appetite.

When you’re not eating enough food, you don’t get the fuel you need to run your body’s functions. As a result, your body prioritises survival mechanisms over feeling good, having a brain that does what it needs to and feeling motivated!

What can you do about this one? You guessed it – eat more! But it’s not just about eating more – we want to include plenty of nutrient-dense whole foods. If you’re not sure how to create a balanced plate, make sure you download my FREE guide here.

YOUR THYROID IS MIA

If perimenopause wasn’t enough to deal with, there is also the higher risk of thyroid disease in your 40s. Low thyroid hormone levels cause a host of symptoms, including depression, weight gain, low mood and you guessed it – lack of motivation.

The autoimmune condition Hashimoto’s is most commonly seen in those aged 30-50, and women are far more prone to it. And of course, if you already have another autoimmune condition such as Coeliac, you have an even higher risk of developing additional autoimmune conditions.

Wondering if your thyroid might be playing a role in your symptoms? I’ve covered this in more detail right here.

YOU HAVE NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

An often overlooked reason behind why you’re unmotivated is low nutrient stores. You might think that motivation is all in your mind, but it involves some very real chemical reactions and neurotransmitters. And these all require nutrients and co-factors to happen.

Nutrient deficiencies that affect brain function and mood include:

• Iron
• B vitamins
• Magnesium
• Vitamin D
• Zinc
• Vitamin C

So if it’s been a while since your last blood test, this is your reminder to get a check-up and rule out deficiencies as a contributing factor.

YOUR ENTIRE SYSTEM IS INFLAMED

This one is harder to spot, as chronic inflammation can often be silent (showing little to no symptoms).

But inflammation is something that churns through vital nutrients, increases physical stress on the body, throws off hormone balance, impairs the thyroid gland, saps your energy and contributes to mood disorders and mental health conditions… so it is almost always a contributing factor to chronic low motivation.

Inflammation is a complex process, so it’s not as simple as ‘eat this and take this supplement’. The real challenge is to identify WHY you’re inflamed in the first place. This includes looking for:

• Underlying health conditions e.g. autoimmune disease or insulin resistance
• Food intolerances
• Exposure to environmental toxins
• Chronic stress
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Inflammatory diet and lifestyle choices e.g. smoking, drinking alcohol, eating junk food

The good news is that our bodies love when we remove inflammatory factors. So once you have identified the underlying issue, you’re likely to notice a big difference in how you feel quite quickly.

ARE YOU UNMOTIVATED THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START LOOKING FOR SUPPORT?

I get it – if you’re feeling overwhelmed and stuck 24/7, the last thing you need is more to-dos on your list. That’s why I’m here to help you ditch the struggle and rediscover your motivation (yes, even when life gets chaotic!)

The best part is that you only need to do one thing – book in for a free discovery call today, and we can explore how I can help you to support and nourish yourself – mind, body and spirit.